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By Geoffrey Kenyon and Martin Carmichael of Goodwin Procter LLP

US venture capital industry in 2001: retreat from frenzied pace of 2000 By John Taylor, Vice president - research of National Venture Capital Association

Mori Sogo and Hamada & Matsumoto will merge in 2003 to create one of Japan's largest law firms.

Lawyers in Singapore have revealed that Clifford Chance and Wong Partnership are to revive their joint venture, which collapsed in 2000.

"The feeling is that the Takeover Panel has lost its edge and become a little limp" - Chris Bright, Shearman & Sterling The Financial Services Authority (FSA), has indicated that it will not use its sweeping new powers to interfere with the role of the UK's Panel on Takeover and Mergers.

Securitization is an important tool in helping financial systems and capital markets to evolve and expand, but so far the world’s richest nations have had a competitive advantage over their less developed neighbours. Lakshman Alles of Australia’s Curtin University discusses the challenges of bringing securitization to the developing world

Employee share trusts (EST) of listed companies established with the purchase of shares, unlike employee share option schemes (ESOP), were not subject to shareholder or Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) approval until May 2001. The rationale for this was that an ESOP would require an increase in the issued capital of the company, whereas an EST, established by the purchase of shares, does not dilute an existing shareholder's holding. If, however, the company was issuing new shares for the purpose of establishing an EST, then the approval of shareholders and the CSE was required. Under the Companies Act (1982), paragraph (b) of the proviso to §55, a company is expressly empowered to give financial assistance towards the purchase of shares to be held by or for the benefit of employees of the company.

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA) came into force at midnight on November 30 2001, and includes new provisions controlling banking business transfer schemes.

virt-x, a trading platform launched on June 25 2001, offers trading facilities in the blue chip equities of the FTSE Eurotop 3000, MSCI Europe, S&P 350 and STOXX Europe. While virt-x is a recognized investment exchange under the UK Financial Services Act 1986 and supervised by the Financial Services Authority, the issuers of shares admitted to trading on virt-x remain listed in their chosen jurisdiction (ie Switzerland).

The financial crisis that hit Turkey recently has demonstrated how the country must strengthen its banking system in order to have a robust economy. As part of its efforts to create a sound and stable banking system and to achieve international banking standards, Turkey has been undergoing a fundamental restructuring. After the introduction of the amendments to the Banks Act No 4389 in May 2001, the necessary complementary regulations were also passed. On June 27 2001, the Regulation on the Mergers and Acquisitions of Banks and the Regulation on the Establishment and Activities of Banks were approved, and on June 30 2001, the Provisioning Regulation was introduced. Although the effects of the financial crisis can still be seen, these regulations have demonstrated to foreign investors interested in entering the Turkish banking sector that Turkey is taking the necessary steps for rapid progress.